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Weigh in Wednesday

This is a new weekly meme hosted by Lauren from Epilogue. Each week there will be a something vs. something topic for you to post your thoughts about. Make sure to visit Epilogue, and she has a link if you'd like to use her picture (shown above) as well as the blog hop code. Comments below with your thoughts are always appreciated! :)

The topic this week: Love Triangles Vs. Insta-love

My thoughts: I go with insta-love, and here's why: the movie Donnie Darko. (Haha, big surprise I'd mention that movie, right?) There wasn't a triangle, but the two main characters--Jake Gyllenhaal's Donnie Darko and Jena Malone's Gretchen Ross--were so great together. Their relationship wasn't exactly instant, but it was natural and not forced at all. They fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, and they're one of my favorite couples ever. :)

If I'm not reading, then I'm writing about books. If I'm not reading or writing, then I'm thinking about books. You get the idea.
In addition to books, I love dyeing my hair various colors, getting tattoos, and listening to music mostly from the 60s/90s.

Oh my god, I know, the music!! That movie got me into listening to those songs with a fresh perspective, and not only those songs but many from the 80's. What they chose to use fit perfectly with the scenes they went along with and really set the mood and atmosphere.

I can understand it's hard to believe two characters falling in love instantly. I really don't like it when it's overdone and cheesy in novels. If an author chooses to go that route, it has to be done just right in order for the reader to be able to get behind the characters. It's almost more believable if the main character falls for a guy or girl, and the "love" is unrequited. That makes it more heart wrenching but realistic. I may be the only one who chose insta-love, hahahah. :)

I don't mind if the insta-love is portrayed as being insta-lust. That's normal. But when the relationship is blown up beyond all definition of normal and the two characters are never shown interacting in such a way that would allow them to get to know each other's personalities (ie, they only ever talk about whatever is threatening them) then it's just not believable for me.

Yeah, when insta-love is written into a book, it usually doesn't turn out very well because it's so unbelievable. While we as readers are willing to suspend our disbelief, we still need a well written story with believable characters. If they're involved in an insta-romance, and it's empty and meaningless because it popped up so suddenly...well, that ruins a large part of the book unfortunately.

It is very different to watch it happen as opposed to reading about it. I can't think of any books I've read that make me believe in insta-love, either. If I can think of one, I'll let you know in case you'd like to try it out. :)

Like donny Darko. "Mad World" always comes to mind whenever I read 100 Years of Solitude. Read the book while listening to the song and you might understand where I'm going.

As for the insta-love/triangle debate. I like insta-love, being a fairly big romantic, but the triangle seems more realistic. In a way, until one of us pairs off with someone and they become an exclusive couple, we're all part of a huge web of love or lust. Whichever you prefer.

I think a triangle is more realistic, too. The thing about insta-love that makes it so unrealistic is that usually, but not always, there's a lot of uncertainty in the beginning--does he/she like me, too; am I saying something stupid that this other person doesn't even care about; do we have anything in common, etc. I can't think of anyone I know who fell instantly in love and lived a happily ever after. There's always bumps on the way. And that is life. Makes it more interesting, I think. :)

If I'm not reading, then I'm writing about books. If I'm not reading or writing, then I'm thinking about books. You get the idea.
In addition to books, I love dyeing my hair various colors, getting tattoos, and listening to music mostly from the 60s/90s.